Rbeport on the Inspection of Na Scoil an Lonn In, Barrack Street

/ Providing Inspection Services for
Department of Education
Department for Employment and Learning
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Inspection of Naíscoil an Lonnáin,
Barrack Street, Belfast
(DE Number: 1BB-0476)
A Report by the Education and Training Inspectorate
June 2003

Introduction

1. Naíscoil An Lonnáin is an Irish-medium pre-school under voluntary management; almost all of the children attending the centre are from English speaking homes and they experience a programme of early immersion learning through the medium of the Irish language. At the time of the inspection, a total of 16 children attended the centre; eight were in their pre-school year.

2. The inspection is part of a programme to ensure that appropriate standards of education are provided in centres receiving funding as part of the Government’s expansion of pre-school education. All of the centre’s pre-school places are funded through the expansion programme.

3. The inspection provided opportunities for the parents to express their views about the centre. All of those who responded were satisfied or very satisfied with all aspects of the centre’s provision.

THE QUALITY OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROVISION

4. The centre’s ethos contributes effectively to the children’s development. There is a settled and caring atmosphere in the centre. The staff provide a safe and secure environment which helps the children grow in confidence and independence. Relationships between

the staff and the children are good. The children respond well to the staff’s expectations of behaviour. Good use is made of the children’s art work, photographs and interest areas to create an inviting and attractive learning environment.

5. The staff are developing an effective programme of liaison with the parents. There are meetings and a variety of written information to guide the parents about the work of the centre. The parents are also given the opportunity to attend Irish language classes. The parents are invited into the centre during the year to discuss their children’s progress with the staff.

6. The centre has a comprehensive written policy on child protection which is shared with the parents. The staff are aware of the key procedures to be followed to implement the policy.

7. The staff have worked hard to develop the written planning. The programme of activities is planned around themes and topics to provide a wide range of learning experiences for the children. The planning identifies some aspects of the language and learning to be promoted through the play activities. It should now be developed further in order to guide more fully the day-to-day work with the children and to ensure that the programme provides sufficient challenge and progression over the two years.

8. The daily timetable provides a good balance of free play and activities organised by the staff. There are ample opportunities for the children to make choices, explore freely the full range of activities and develop their play. Appropriate time is given to story and physical play sessions. The staff should review some aspects of the children’s snack routine to ensure that all of the time is used productively to promote learning.

9. The staff provide the children with sustained and sensitive support. Their effective involvement in all aspects of the play fosters settled and productive activity. The staff make purposeful and consistent use of the Irish language when communicating with the children. As they participate with the children in play activities, the staff introduce a range of ideas across the pre-school curriculum.

10. The centre’s programme provides the children with satisfactory or good opportunities to learn in all areas of the pre-school curriculum. The points which follow illustrate specific aspects of the programme.

· The careful attention given to developing the children’s personal, social and emotional development is evident in the children’s abilities to make independent choices of activity and in the good levels of concentration sustained by many. They co-operate with one another and are learning to share materials agreeably.

· The staff provide daily opportunities for the children to develop a range of physical skills. The staff have identified energetic physical play as an area requiring further resources. The children’s manipulative skills are developing appropriately through their use of a variety of tools and equipment.

· The children receive constant exposure to the Irish language across a range of stimulating contexts and situations. The children listen attentively to the adults and can follow simple instructions. Some of the children are beginning to respond using simple words. Effective use is made of story-telling, role-play, puppet shows and games to stimulate the children’s interest and to provide enjoyable learning experiences for them. The children would benefit from more frequent and purposeful use of books, and more opportunities for early marking and experimental writing, during the session.

· The children’s abilities to express their ideas creatively are developed through the use of a range of materials provided for painting, drawing and model making. A few of the children draw and paint simple representations of figures and objects in their surroundings. The staff value the work of the children and display it attractively around the playroom.

· The staff use some appropriate mathematical language when participating in the children’s play. They foster an interest in number, shape, size and comparison. The staff should ensure that a broad range of early mathematical concepts is promoted more consistently throughout the play activities.

· The children are becoming aware of the properties of natural materials as they explore the items in the water tray and use tools in the sand. They have the opportunity to learn about living things as they care for the plants. More could be done to encourage the children to explore materials, observe changes and form ideas about how things work. There are some opportunities for the children to develop technological ideas as they use constructional materials. The children’s experiences are extended usefully by the range of interesting visitors who contribute to the programme.

11. The staff are developing their skills in recording observations of the children’s responses to play. They are beginning to use these observations to compile individual profiles of the children. Further development is needed to ensure that there are effective arrangements for monitoring, recording and reporting the children’s progress.

12. Valuable links have been established with the adjoining Irish-medium primary school, to which almost all of the children will transfer. The staff share information on the children’s progress to help to ensure a smooth transition to year 1. The staff are alert to some children’s need for additional support. There is good communication with parents and supportive links with other professionals.

13. The centre’s manager is committed to extending the educational provision. The leader in day-to-day charge of the centre has recently returned from a period of extended leave. She manages the centre effectively and promotes a strong sense of team-work. The staff are hard-working and dedicated to the welfare of the children and the work and ethos of the Naíscoil. The staff value the support of the parents, management committee and their early years specialist.

14. The quality of the premises is satisfactory. The staff work hard to make the best use of all the available space. There is a secure outdoor area. There are plans to develop further the outdoor area to extend the children’s experiences.

15. There are adequate resources to implement a broad programme of play. Further resources are needed to help the staff to ensure that all areas of the curriculum provide sufficient challenge and progression throughout the year, particularly with regard to energetic physical play and early technological ideas.

16. The strengths of the centre include:

· the warm, caring staff and their close involvement in the children’s play;

· the good interaction between the staff and the children;

· the satisfactory or good opportunities to learn in all areas of the pre-school curriculum;

· the many instances of concentrated and productive play;

· the hard-working staff and the sense of team-work.

17. The inspection has identified some areas which require action. In addressing the most important areas, the centre needs to:

· develop further the assessment methods, in order to ensure that adequate and accurate information is recorded on each child’s progress and that this information is linked to the planning, in order to meet the children’s differing needs.

18. Overall, the quality of the educational provision in this pre-school centre is clearly satisfactory but improvements are needed in the areas identified if the needs of the children are to be met fully. The staff should draw up an action plan to address these areas. The Department’s Inspectorate will monitor the progress being made.

This report may be reproduced in whole or in part, except for commercial purposes or in connection with a prospectus or advertisement, provided that the source and date thereof are stated.

Copies of this report may be obtained from the Inspection Services Branch, Department of Education, Rathgael House, 43 Balloo Road, Bangor, Co Down BT19 7PR. A copy is also available on the DE website: www.deni.gov.uk